Method and apparatus for spinning artificial filamentous products



METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SPINNING ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTOUS PRODUCTS Filed July 3, 1943 APFAH 1949. R. J. TAYLOR 2,467,541

IN VENTOR. Power .2 7747/. 06

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 19, 1949 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SPINNKNG ARTIFICIAL FHLAMENTOUS PRODUCTS Robert J. Taylor, Claymont, Del, assignor to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington,

Del, a corporation of Delaware Application July 3, 1943, Serial No. 493,404

9 Claims.

This invention is a modification of the methods and of the apparatus of my copending applica tions Serial No. 479,889, filed March 20, 1943, now Patent 2,399,253, Serial No. 489,071, filed May 27,

1943, now Patent 2,399,259, and Serial No. 490,009, filed June 8, 1943, now Patent 2,399,260, and is what diagrammatically the arrangement of the particularly concerned with the production, prccapparatus for carrying out the invention. essing, and collection of continuous filamentary Figure 2 a side elevation of the form of chanmaterials while maintaining them in the form nel communicating between the coagulating bath of a thin web-like sheet in which the compon nt and the stretching bath, and filaments exhibit a considerabl degree of inter- Figure 3 is a plan view of the channel of Figcrossing though generally extending in the direcure 2. tion of the length of the sheet. In my copending As shown in Figure 1, the coagulating bath is applications, there are disclosed arrangements of retained within a container or chamber 2 within apparatus and methods of spinning continuous which the spinncret 3 is shown immersed. Asecartificial filaments in the form of a multiple-filaond container or chamber 4 whose walls may ment bundle which is collected within the spinmerely be extensions of those of the container 2 ning bath while condensing the multiple-filament as shown and which is separated from the coagbundle along one direction only so that it is ulating bath by the partition 5 serves to receive wound, with or without traverse, as a series of a plasticizing liquid for the particular filaments convolutions of a thin web-like sheet, The to be after-stretched or any other desired procwound band, comprising the convolutions of the essing liquid. The partitions 5 between the coweb-like sheet upon itself, is slit transversely of agulating chamber 2 and the after-stretching its annulus, laid out in a fiat condition, dried chamber 6 is provided with a horizontally elonand then stretched with respect to its width while gated aperture 6 adapted to receive a com maintaining longitudinal tension along its two municating channel l having a flared mouth 8 sides. In both of such earlierapplicaticns, the and a flared discharge end 9 which is preferably subsequent drying and expansion of the dried at least as large in diameter as its mouth. As wound band with respect to its width gives rise shown in the drawing, particularly in Figure 2, to novel products of extremely light-weight and the vertical dimension of the passage through the flufiiness which are useful as heat insulation, channel '5 decreases from the mouth 8 to produce cushioning material, buoyant material and the a relatively narrow constricted passage at the like. point of or in the vicinity of the passage through In accordance with the present invention, there the partition 5 between the two chambers 2 and is provided a novel arrangement of apparatus Afunnel guide be placedin the Coagwhich makes it possible to subject filaments spun ulating bath just in advance of the spinneret to in one bath to an after-stretching to effect furcontrol the waving motion of the filamentary mather reduction in diameter of the filaments thereterial when it is composed of extremely fine in, or to any other processing treatment in a sepa diameters. rate bath, and such transfer and treatment in the 40 A guide roller or drum Ill whose peripheral sursecond bath is made while maintaining the filaface has a width at least wide enough to accomments in the form of a web-like sheet which may modate the web-like sheet of the filaments guided comprise aplurality of layers of intercrossing filathereby is mounted for rotation with the shaft ments. This is especially important when deal- II which is mounted in bearings (e. g., that ining with extremely fine diameter filaments bedicated at 52) at such a height above the con cause such filaments are generally severely damtainer that the guide roller l9 is partially imaged if attempts are made to transfer them about mersed in the bath and its lowermost peripheral solid guide surfaces to the second bath or, if it line is approximately in line with a funnel guide is desired to collect the filaments as a web-like la placed in advance of the discharge end 9 of sheet, to re-open a condensed yarn-like bundle the communicating channel 1 between the coaguthereof. While the particular conditions and the lating and aiter stretching bath. A. similar guide particular materials disclosed for use in executing roller I3 is mounted for rotation in an opposite the method will be described hereinafter direction with its surface substantially in conparticular reference to the spinning of hydrotact or at least very close to'the peripheral surphobic synthetic linear polymers, it is to be un- 55 face of the first guide roller Ill. The bearingsderstood that the apparatus is applicable as well to the spinning of other materials such a cellulose acetate, viscose, and the like.

In the drawing, illustrative of the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing some- I2 and I4 for the shafts II and I5 carrying the rollers I0 and I3 may be supported upon a common base plate I6 which may be provided with a, slot I! to permit adjustment of such rollers with respect to the supporting base or frame I8 so that the first guide roller may be positioned at any selected distance from th guide Ia. A take-up drum I9 may be arranged above the second guide roller I3 with its peripheral surface close to that of the roller I3 but sufliciently displaced therefrom to permit the desired thickness of band to be wound on the take-up drum I9 without interference from the roller I3. The take-up drum I9 may be arranged for axial traverse, if desired. A suitable driving arrangement may be provided for driving the take-up drum I9, as well as the first and second guide rollers I0 and I3 so that the web-like filamentary sheet has a constant linear speed in proceeding from the stretch bath to the take-up drum I9. Such driving arrangement may comprise a chain connection between sprockets on the take-up drum shaft and the first guide roller and gears connecting the shafts II and I5.

If desired, the guide rollers I0 and I3 may be omitted and the take-up device I9 may be positioned so that it runs partially immersed in the stretch bath and it may or may not be traversed with respect to the guide Ia. Again, the second roller guide I3 may be omitted and the take-up device I9 placed in close proximity to the first roller guide I0 in which event it may be operated with or without traverse.

The stretch bath may be provided with an overflow pipe 26 connecting with a reservoir Zl provided with a heating coil 28 to control the temperature and a pump 28 may introduce the liquid from this reservoir into the stretch bath at the desired rate by way of pipe 30. Since a certain amount of the liquid from the coagulating bath finds its way into the stretch bath through the communicating channel I, provision may be made to redistribute the amount of liquid thus carried over, such as by an overflow pipe 3| within the reservoir 21 connected to a second reservoir 32 for the coagulating bath. This reservoir 32 may be provided with a heating or cooling jacket 33 to control the temperature and a pump 34 is provided to deliver from the reservoir coagulating liquid to the bath at the desired rate. Additional heating such as coils 35 may be placed in association with each of the baths, if desired.

As an example illustrating the use of the apparatus hereinabove described, a spinning solution in acetone of watery consistency of a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate may be extruded through a spinneret having 3000 holes into a coagulating bath in chamber 2 having a temperature between 35 and 50 C., preferably about 45 C. and is passed as a web-like sheet through the communicating tube I into chamber 4 containing an after-stretching bath having a temperature between 60 C. and 90 0., preferably about 80 C. The passage of the web-like sheet through the liquid, and particularly through the gradually narrowing portion of the channel I results in the exertion of a drag upon the filaments which oppose the force exerted by the guide roller I0 for withdrawing the sheet from the stretch bath. An additional factor in the exertion of drag upon the filaments in opposition to the withdrawing action of roller I0 is the difference in hydrostatic head between the baths 4 and 2, the liquid level in bath 4 being normally maintained at a higher elevation to reduce the flow of liquid from the coagulating bath 2 into bath 4 through the channel I. The result of these two factors is an effective controlled amount of stretching which may be adjusted by adjusting the distance of the guide roller I0 from the guide la, the greater the distance the greater the amount of stretching. Besides varying the distance, variation in the temperature of the after-stretch bath and the rate of travel of the filaments therethrough may be resorted to in order to obtain any desired effect.

The tapered construction of the channel I serves to provide an effective drag on the filaments and also reduces the amount of liquid transferred from the coagulating bath into the stretch bath. By providing a discharge opening at 9 of the same size as the entrance 8 to the channel I, turbulence is controlled within the channel.

While the heat of hot water serves as a plasticizer for the vinyl resin filaments of the example, other plasticizers, swelling agents, and the like may be used in the stretch bath depending on the particular material of which the filaments are made, such as a mixture of Water and acetone for cellulose acetate. Examples of other treating or processing liquids are washing liquids, desulphurizing liquids for filaments regenerated from viscose, waterproofing agents, and other conditioning liquids for imparting a desired finish or hand to the filaments.

In the foregoing description, reference is made for illustrative purposes, to the application of the invention for the production of mats of the type disclosed in my earlier applications. The invention is equally applicable to the transfer of filaments as a yarn-like bundle into a second bath and treatment of the bundle therein as such. In this event, the width of the aperture 6 may be correspondingly reduced.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for spinning artificial filaments, a receptacle for a coagulating liquid adapted to receive the liquid at least up to a predetermined level, a spinneret disposed therein below the predetermined level, a, second receptacle for a treating liquid disposed in advance of the first receptacle and adapted to receive the liquid at least up to a predetermined level, a channel communicating directly between a region in each receptacle which is below the predetermined liquid level therein, said channel having a portion gradually narrowing with respect to its vertical dimension only and having a gradually widening portion beyond the narrowing portion, and rotatable means extending partially beneath the predetermined liquid level in the second receptacle for drawing and stretching the filaments while maintaining them in the general form of a web-like sheet from the spinneret through the channel into the second receptacle.

2. In apparatus for spinning artificial fila-' ments, a receptacle, a transverse partition dividing it into two sections, one section for receiving a coagulating liquid at least up to a predetermined level and the other for receiving a treating liquid at least up to a predetermined level, a spinneret in the former of the sections below the predetermined level therein, a channel extending throughthe partition below the predetermined liquid levels, said channel having a. portion gradually narrowing with respect to its vertical dimension only and having a gradually Widening portion beyond the narrowing portion, and means extending partially beneath the predetermined liquid level in the second section of the receptacle for drawing the filaments While maintaining them in the general form of a weblike sheet from the spinneret through the channel into the second section of the receptacle.

3. In apparatus for spinning artificial filaments, a receptacle, a transverse partition for dividing it into two sections, one for receiving a coagulating liquid at least up to a predetermined level and the other section for receiving a treating liquid at least up to a predetermined level, a spinneret in the former of the sections below the predetermined level therein, a channel extending through the partition below the predetermined liquid levels, said channel having a portion gradually narrowing with respect to its vertical dimension only and having a gradually widening portion beyond the narrowing portion, the discharge opening of the channel being at least as large as the entrance opening thereof, and means extending partially beneath the predetermined liquid level in the second section of the receptacle for drawing the filaments while maintaining them in the general form of a web-like sheet from the spinneret through the channel into the second section of the receptacle.

4. The method of making artificial filamentous products comprising extruding a spinning material through a plurality of orifices into a body of coagulating liquid to form a plurality of filaments therein, withdrawing the filaments from the position of extrusion under conditions of turbulence causing the paths of the filaments to overlap each other irregularly as viewed in a vertical direction and then passing the filaments while maintaining them [in submerged relationship into a second body of liquid contiguous with the first without permitting the filaments to make substantial contact with solid guiding surfaces and while condensing the filaments to a web-like sheet, and collecting the filaments by winding them While still in the form of a web-like sheet, the entire passage of the filaments trom the position of extrusion up to a position well-advanced in the second liquid body being effected without permitting the filaments to make substantial contact with solid surfaces.

5. The method of claim 4 in which the filaments are subjected to an increase in tension in the second body of liquid.

6. The method of claim 5 in which pressure within the second body of, liquid is greater than that within the first liquid body at their position of contiguity whereby a flow of liquid occurs countercurrent to the filaments and contributes to said increase in tension.

7. The method of making artificial filamentous products comprising extruding a. spinning matenial through a plurality of orifices into a :body of coagulating liquid at about C. to form a plurality of filaments therein, withdrawing the filaments from the position of extrusion under conditions of turbulence causing the paths of the filaments to overlap each other irregularly as viewed in a vertical direction and then passing the filaments while maintaining them in submerged relationship intoa second body of liquid contiguous with the first and having a tempera,- ture of C. to C. without permitting the filaments to make substantial contact with solid guiding surfaces and while condensing the filaments to a Web-like sheet, subjecting the filaments to an increase in tension in the second body of liquid, and collecting the filaments by winding them while still in the form of a weblike sheet, the entire passage of the filaments from the position of extrusion up toa. position well-advanced in the second liquid body being efiected without permitting the filaments to make substantial contact with solid surfaces.

8. The method of claim 7 in which the spinning material is a solution of a vinyl resin 00- polymer.

9. The method of claim 8 in which the resin is a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate.

ROBERT J. TAYLOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,164,084 Giraud et a1 Dec. 14, 1915 1,665,453 Grunert Apr. 10, 1928 1,683,199 Lilienfeld Sept. 4, 1928 1,910,879 Bernstein May 23, 1933 2,054,852 Dreyfus Sept. 22, 1936 2,067,251 Taylor Jan. 12, 1937 2,144,785 Wagner Jan. 24, 1939' 2,162,575 Dove June 13, 1939 2,190,265 Hubert Feb. 13, 1940 2,248,862 Givens July 8, 1941 2,267,055 Tippetts Dec. 23, 1941 2,307,863 Soukup Jan. 12, 1943 2,308,141 Alles Jan. 12, 1943 2,370,765 Attwood Mar. 6, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 124,714 Austria May 15, 1931 559,093 Germany Sept. 15, 1932 697,477 Germany Oct. 15, 1940 

